A motorcyclist tragically lost his life after falling into a massive sinkhole that opened up in Seoul's Myeongil-dong area on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 6.30 PM local time, when the ground suddenly caved in at a busy intersection, swallowing the motorcyclist and injuring a passing driver in a van.Source

Emergency responders conducted a search for around 17 hours, ultimately discovering the victim, identified as a 34-year-old male, in cardiac arrest on Tuesday noon. Rescuers found his body approximately 50 meters from the sinkhole's center, while he was still wearing his protective gear consisting of a helmet and motorcycle boots. Before locating him, search teams found his motorcycle and mobile phone within the hole, which is about 20 meters deep and wide (approximately 65 feet).

Dashcam footage of the incident, which has gone viral, shows the moment of the collapse, depicting the motorbike plummeting into the ground while a car narrowly escapes the hole. Officials reported that the injured female driver did not fall into the sinkhole. She sustained only minor injuries during the incident.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the sinkhole, which has raised safety concerns among local residents. The incident is particularly alarming as it is one of the notable sinkhole events to occur in the city recently, with a similar occurrence reported last August when an SUV was swallowed. A spokesperson from the Seoul city government indicated that construction activity for the metro line extension may be contributing to the recent sinkhole formations.Source

Following the incident, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has called for urgent investigations into the conditions that led to the sinkhole and emphasized the need for preventive measures to avert future occurrences.Source